2006 Chevrolet Hhr Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr.

< older2007
Complaints
1,367
Crashes
74
Fires
11
Injuries
46
Fatalities
4
Recalls
2

Worst 2006 Chevrolet Hhr Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1448 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:89,175 mi
Crash-related:18
Fires:1
#2185 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:82,599 mi
Crash-related:10
Fires:2
#358 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:105,967 mi
Crash-related:19
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr.

Steering Defects
448
complaints
Crashes
18
Fires
1
Avg Miles
89,175
Electrical Faults
185
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
2
Avg Miles
82,599
Airbags
58
complaints
Crashes
19
Fires
1
Avg Miles
105,967
Transmission / Drivetrain
47
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
89,811
Structure:Body:Door
47
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,540
Fuel System
44
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
128,774
Latches / Locks
41
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
61,083
Body Structure
41
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
73,446
Engine Problems
39
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
85,642
Structural Problems
29
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,989
Hydraulic Brakes
27
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
46,500
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
26
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,261
Automatic Transmission
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,141
Electrical System:Ignition
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
65,477
Engine & Cooling
23
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
56,592
Suspension Failures
21
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
69,906
Electronic Stability Control
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
97,815
Brakes
14
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
96,441
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
19,447
Headlight/Taillight Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
92,653
Suspension:Front
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,651
Wheel Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,877
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
86,135
Unintended Acceleration
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
87,160
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
68,472
Gasoline Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
71,435
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
12,813
Instrument Cluster
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,814
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
41,778

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2006 Chevrolet Hhr

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,381,948 vehicles.

14V171000Electrical System:ignition
~2,191,014 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

14V047000Airbags · Electrical System:ignition:switch
~2,190,934 affected

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Other Chevrolet Hhr Years

2006 Chevrolet Hhr — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2006 Chevrolet Hhr has 1,367 NHTSA complaints, 74 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 448 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (448 complaints, avg 89,175 mi); Electrical Faults (185 complaints, avg 82,599 mi); Airbags (58 complaints, avg 105,967 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 82,067 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr?
NHTSA complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr include 74 crash-related reports, 11 fire reports, 46 injuries, and 4 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,381,948 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Hhr reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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